Day 5 New York to Orlando

So, after our ridiculously early start this morning, with our crazy shuttle bus driver speeding most of the way, we got to the airport hours ahead of our flight.  We were lucky we were able to check our bags in so early.  Wouldn't have happened in Australia!

Times Square at 6.15 in the morning!  Still dark and basically empty. 

We sat and had breakfast at a cafe. Em and I both ordered a bacon, cheese and egg croissant and I got a plate of fruit.  I find I am really missing fresh food especially fruit. 

Breakfasts in cafes/restaurants here include breakfast fries which is potato fried up with in this case some capsicum. Personally I don't think breakfast fries are necessary, but that's just me.  

We sat at small desks that had iPads on them but we were unable to access anything on them, until time to board our flight.  

Our flight from NY to Orlando was a little bumpy esp coming in to Orlando. We collected our baggage and then proceeded to the food court.  The airport here is pretty cool.  It has a resort - I guess because it must be close to the theme parks. 

The food court has a huge variety to choose from. Much like the food courts in shopping centres in Australia. 

We had a couple of hours to wait for Ken, Mitch, mum & dad to land so we sat & chilled and caught up on social media thanks to free wifi. 

Day 4 New York

Thursday 17 December 

Today the weather was horrible.  We knew it wasn't going to be good and that there was a 100% chance of rain and they got it right.  So we planned to go shopping to a huge outlet centre about 1 hour out of the city.  Good day for it.  

This place is huge.  Like our DFO but bigger and more spread out. 

This is the bridge over the Hudson River from Manhattan to New Jersey.

It was a wet day - looks colder than it actually was. 

Our aim here was to get shoes for Emily, Mitchell and myself and a warm jacket for Mitch for Vegas and the Grand Canyon.  We ticked off all necessary items and picked up a few extra things. Our bus back left at 3pm and we arrived back in Manhattan around 5pm due to city traffic.  

After grabbing a sub from subway for dinner we proceeded to re pack our bags before heading out to get tickets for our 2nd Broadway show - Dames at Sea. 

Dames at Sea was showing in the Helen Hayes theatre.  Another beautiful old theatre, though not as beautiful as last nights.  Dames at Sea is set in 1930's and is not unlike Anything Goes.  Only exception is there were only 6 cast members.  No ensemble.  Those 3 guys and 3 gals are amazing.  Thoroughly loved this show. Once again we waited outside to get autographs and photos with cast. Only 4 of the cast members came out to meet and greet but we met them all.  Lovely people especially the male lead Carey Tedder. He was very talkative and friendly.  

While we were waiting for the cast to come out, patrons from the theatre across the road were also waiting for their cast.  But the star of their cast was none other than Bruce Willis of Die Hard fame.  I managed to get a grainy picture of his balding, shiny head while he graciously signed autographs before getting into his waiting black car.  

Earlier finish tonight due to earlier start of musical.  Home to bed for extra early start tomorrow - pickup at 6.10am for our onward journey to Orlando. 

Until tomorrow 

Y & E xx

Day 3 New York

Wednesday 16 December 

Another big day.  Another awesome day! We started today with a visit to Grand Central Station. And grand it is. 

We couldn't come to New York and not see grand central and the clock that Melman from Madagascar got his head stuck in. 

Our next stop was to be Bryant park but for the life of us we couldn't find it.  As I said in an earlier post we are women not navigators.  The next point of call was going to be B & H camera store to tease dad and Ken as it is apparently a massive multi storey centre like nothing we've ever seen for anything and everything cameras and photography.  Unfortunately we got a little, umm I'd like to say sidetracked but no, we got lost.  Note to self: next time I travel make sure to get an international data package do I can see a map and get directions on my phone! 

Next stop was Madame Tussaud's. There are some really awesome realistic models and then there are some that are downright scary and look absolutely nothing like their human celebrity.  Jennifer Aniston for example was scary. I think Emily managed a selfie with 80-90% of the wax figures there!  It wasn't a bad way to fill in a couple of hours.  But I do feel like if you've seen 1 Madame Tussaud's you've seen them all.  

For lunch today we went to the Star Dust Diner. At this diner all the wait staff are employed on their ability to sing because  in between taking orders, and delivering our meals and drinks they sing to entertain the diners.  It was such good fun and thoroughly entertaining but somewhat crowded.  Emily would now like to be al Star Duster.  When these guys and gals aren't working at the diner they are either having dance, acting and vocal classes or auditioning for Broadway shows. 

For lunch we ordered a Be Bob a Luba burger - a cheese burger with mushrooms and fries.

It was quite good - filling! To spend a little more time there to enjoy the atmosphere we took one for the team and ordered dessert.  Just got 2 scoops ice cream.  They were massive scoops and we ended up rolling out of there.   

Next stop was a walk to and through Central Park.  I can only imagine how pretty it must look in summer when everything is green.  Despite everything being brown except the grass, it was beautiful to be in a park in the middle of the concrete jungle that is New York.  And there were squirrels!  Lots of them.  They are just the cutest little things scurrying and ferreting in the fallen leaves for food.  We could have easily spent hours watching these little guys.  They're not as friendly as the ones in St James park in London though.  Those guys will eat nuts out of your hands!  We went past the ice skating rink but opted not to skate. 

We did manage to find Tiffany's and had a wonder around inside. Oh my god there were 5 levels of jewellery.  I saw a ring that I fell in love with that someone was purchasing and when I asked her how much it was I really didn't like what I heard!  $2000!!!  I thought it looked like it would've been worth $500-600.  Sad face!  So window shopping was all it was going to be for us. 

Whilst waiting for our hop on hop off bus to take us to a stop nearer to where we wanted to visit next, I bought us a bottle of Coke from a street vendor. Now to buy a bottle from 7/11 it costs $2.29 but this guy charged $4 each!  What a rip off!  

Anyway, we were hoping to get to the "Ugly Christmas sweater" shop to see if we could pick up some sweaters however when we got to the stop we thought was near the shop we realised it actually wasn't - God we're good navigators.  

So we stayed on the bus and did the loop back to Times Square. 

We had dinner at the local pizza shop tonight. 1 slice each is more than enough.  It was probably equivalent to 2-3 slices of Australian pizza. I personally prefer Aussie pizzas - just saying. 

Tonight we attended our first Broadway show!   We saw Something Rotten at the St James theatre.  Such a beautiful old theatre with the most stunning chandelier. We bought our tickets from a little shop in Times Square and I admit I was a bit dubious as to whether the tickets were legit.  We bought tickets on the balcony for $?  We weren't convinced the tickets were legitimate until we got to the theatre and the tickets were accepted.  But not only were they accepted we got upgraded to closer, better seats!  How awesome!  Emily was just a little excited.  The show was incredible.  So much fun, thoroughly entertaining and full of puns.  

At the end of the show we lined up outside with a couple of dozen other die hard musical theatre fans to get autographs and photos with the cast.  Most of the cast members came out and we're happy to sign autographs and pose for photos. Those that weren't simply slipped out another door.  I think we met with most of the leads.  

It was a late night but an awesome end to another beaut day. 

Until tomorrow,

Yvette & Emily xx

Day 2 New Yok

Tuesday 15 December 2015
Wow-ee, what a huge day!  We had an early start today in an attempt to beat the crowds at the Empire State Building.  Out the door at 7.15am, quick pit stop at the golden arches for breakfast, then a brisk 20min walk to the ESB.  Guess what…it paid off!  The line was only about 20 people deep, so we didn't have long to wait at all.  To top it all off, we were blessed with an awesome day, perfect weather!  Yesterday there was so much fog around, all day, that we couldn't see the top of the ESB and we were told that last week due to the unseasonably warm weather the was a lot of smog and therefore the views were not so great.  Well, we could see forever!
There was quite a wind blowing at the top - actually there was a wind blowing all day today that really picked up in the afternoon, but that's ok as it blew away the rain that came over yesterday evening.  The photos below are taken from the 86th floor.

Next stop, the 9/11 Memorial.  To say this was a moving experience is an understatement.  The reflection pools are truly beautiful.  The names of every person who lost their life are spread around the edges of the 2 pools.  As you walk around there is the occasional flower that a loved one has left recently.  It is very sobering to be there.

The memorial/museum is actually underneath the pools in the footprints of the 2 trade centres.  The mood downstairs was quiet solemn.  The stories shared are so personal.  The remnants and debris on display defy belief.  It certainly leaves a mark on your heart being there.  Emily was choking back emotion the whole time we were there, but photos of people who leapt from the burning towers was too much for her, and her tears flowed freely.  Such an emotional journey for her despite seeing vision of that horrible day on Youtube.  She actually couldn't understand why more people weren't crying - I can only think that for most, as is the case for me, those emotions were raw and real at the time that this all happened.  Emily was only 3 at the time…

Reflection pool of Tower 1

Reflection pool for Tower 2

Remnants of the slurry wall and the last column

No day shall erase you from the memory of time.  2983 individual watercolours depicting the colour of the sky the morning of 9/11 commemorating every person who lost their life.

This is a segment of the radio and TV antenna from the North Tower

Following this moving visit, we headed to Battery Park where we were shuttled to Pier 36 for our ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty.  She isn't as big as we imagined - don't get me wrong, she is big, but we both had imagined she was taller.  She is quite thin too.  She is only the thickness of 2 pennies, and started her life brown (brass).  The years and the weather have tarnished her image.  She is however, beautiful!  

The ferry ride also took us a little way down the Hudson River, almost to the point where the plane crashed into the river years ago.  

On the ride back in to dock, we were treated with the sun setting and creating a beautiful opportunity for photos incorporating the Brooklyn Bridge.

This evening we did a Brooklyn bus tour.  It began at 5pm and it was already dark, so we didn't see as much as we would during the day however we were assured that the view of Manhattan from Brooklyn at night is something to behold.  They weren't wrong…just a shame I couldn't find the right settings on the camera to capture it in its full glory.

This was the best I managed. :-(

Anyway, Emily and I were talking on the bus home about the highlight of the day for each of us…neither of us could pick one.  Everything we did today was special in its own way.  I am also incredibly thankful for the wonderful weather we had today.

Dinner tonight was at 'Juniors".  I think if you dined here regularly you wouldn't be junior - you'd be huge!  It was different thats for sure and not what I thought I was ordering.  I ordered a pulled pork sandwich.  There was definitely pulled pork and loads of it, there was also a bun buried underneath it all and it was topped with fried onion with a side of chips.  I couldn't even get through half of it!  But I was holding back for dessert.  Yes you heard me, dessert!  Apparently the best cheesecake ever if served at Juniors.  Of course I had to test that theory.  I'm sad to say that it holds up to the rumours.  I've never had a piece of cheesecake like it.  So smooth, so creamy and so BIG!  But it was oh so good!  I'll pay for that later, no doubt!

Time for bed to ponder the memories we formed today.

Until tomorrow,

Y&E xx

Day 1 New York

Monday 14 December 

So, this morning started very stressfully.  Emily wanted to make an early start and set the alarm for 6.30am.  She was on the computer looking things up and checking out sites.  We ventured out and had breakfast just around the corner  - biggest breakfast ever!  I had a 3 egg omelet and I swear that those eggs must have been emu eggs because that omelette was huge - struggled to finish it, and it wasn't as good as dad's - just saying!  Em had a Bacon and egg panini, also huge and both meals came with a side of potatoes.  Weird I know.
That was not the stressful part, this next bit is…but it's not really, we were just stressing about not knowing where to go.  Both of us being female, and therefore obviously not good at map reading, began stressing about our whereabouts.  It's quite a confusing city - too many streets with east and west ends of them.  Argh, probably by Friday when we have to leave we'll have our bearings.  We didn't have this much trouble together in Paris, but Paris is much smaller.  Anyway, finally after asking many people for help with directions we found a bus stop for the hop on hop off buses we bought tickets for. Yay for us!!!
Today was cloudy and very foggy until about 3pm, just in time for an hour or so of sun before sunset around 4.30pm.  On our bus rounds, the fog was so low that as we went past the Empire State building we couldn't see the top.  We did however get off at Macy's and have a wander inside.  The decorations on the ground floor are so beautiful.  Macy's was the first store to have Christmas displays in the windows.  The theme this year Charlie Brown and Snoopy!!!
We also went past the 9/11 Memorial - will go back tomorrow to do that properly.  Got off the bus at Central Park and went on a horse and carriage ride.  Was fun.  Emily felt sorry for the horses though.  We then walked back to the NBC studios and shop where Emily bought a Jimmy Fallon and Friends shirt.  After some more aimless wondering, aka begin lost, we asked a lovely NYPD officer for directions to the Rockefeller Centre and had a look at the enormous Christmas tree overlooking the ice skating rink.  It was very beautiful and would no doubt look more beautiful at night.
The weather has turned tonight - have been having showers.  But good news, it will be fine and sunny tomorrow!  We were going to go on a night bus tour, but when the showers started we changed our minds.  Didn't want to get wet on the open top bus and risk getting sick for the rest of the trip, so we spent the evening planning the next couple of days and watching the weather channel.

My huge omelette

Macy's

Beautiful decorations on ground floor of Macy's 

One of many window Christmas displays at Macy's 

Horse and carriage rides in Central Park 

Is having a ride as every good tourist does 

The giant tree at the Rockefeller plaza

More Christmas decorations around Rockefeller plaza

The m&m store - 3 levels of m&m's

Dames at Sea musical posters - hoping to see this musical

Until tomorrow, 

Yvette & Em xx

The Big Apple

FINALLY, we are in New York.  What a journey…have to say flying Virgin was pretty good, can't complain.  In fact, weather gods were on our side and our flight time was only 12 hours!  Our transit through LAX was incident free, though time wise was very tight.  Flight from LA to NY was a little bumpy most of the way, but nothing bad.  NY traffic on a Sunday night is crazy, but our shuttle bus driver ensures us that its really good.  The night before (Saturday) he said it took him 45min to get down 1 street and 3 hours to go around the block!!! Far out the Bruce Highway doesn't seem so bad after hearing that!

Our hotel is literally just around the corner from BROADWAY!  As you can imagine, Emily is more than a little excited about that.  After checking in and dumping our stuff, we wondered out for food and of course a photo of Broadway.  We were so tired after our journey that we didn't wonder down the street for a looksey - tomorrow!

We just ended up getting McDonald's last night - quick, easy and cheap.  Emily was starving so decided she'd get a large meal…well, their large is mega!  I got a regular which is the equivalent of Australia's large meal.  We actually could share a large cheeseburger meal, as it comes with 2 cheeseburgers.  How sad that we can share a meal at Macca's!

Anyway, the bed is calling - loudly now.  It's going to feel so good to lie down.

Til tomorrow,
Yvette & Emily x

Waiting...

Here we sit waiting for our boarding call.  

What to do....eat of course!